Adhesive tape container and cutter



Aug. 2, 1932. R. c. ZUCKERMAN 148699729 ADHESIVE TAPE CONTAINER AND CUTTER I Filed Feb. 19, 1930 lNVENTOR R. C- Zuclcermw BY 2a) hm ATTORNEY v Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STAT-ES ROSCOE- C. ZUCKERMAN, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA ADHE SIVE TAPE CONTAINER AND CUTTER Application filed February 19, 1930. Serial No. 429,565.

This invention relates to adhesive tape or plaster of .what is commonly known as the surgical type. Such tape is put .out'in roll or spool form and its nature is such that 6 it is practically impossible to tear it across. A knife or scissors are therefore at present .necessary to sever the tape after a strip of the desired length has been drawn from the spoolan operation which it is frequently inconvenient to perform; and further it is often necessary to use the tape when such cutting implements are not at hand. Also the spool if not enclosed when not in use is apt to become dirty so that its value for 1 its intended purpose is considerably impaired owing to the unhygienic condition which the tape is then liable to have.

' The. principal object of my invention is to avoid the above inconvenient and objectionable features incident to handling tape of this character by ,providing a container for the tape so arranged that the tape will be normally completely enclosed while at the same time it may be readily got at when necessary; and by providing a cutter mounted as a unit with the container, and so arranged that a piece of tape when drawn off the spool may be easily and cleanly severed without distorting or pulling the tape out 80 of shape.

The container and cutter are also so arranged that said cutter, which must be quite sharp sheathed so that the container may be carried in a pocket or otherwise handled-without danger of the user being cut. I

A further object is to arrange the container so that after a length of tape has been cut oif the adjacent end of the. tape on the spool will remain where it is'accessibl for subsequent pulling or unrolling movement, without having to insert the fingers into the container. In connection with this feature I have provided means for posi 4 tively pushing or prying said end of the tape clear of the container when it is desired.

to unroll another length of the tape,- so that it may be then easily grasped withoutfirst having to pry up the .tape with the fingers I nail or other object.

vin its fully retracted position.

to function efliciently, is normally 7 A further object of the invention provide a simple and inexpensive deviceian'd .yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed;-

These ob ects, I accomplish by means-offi i such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will--fully appear by a perusal .of the following specification and claims.- I 1:

In the drawing similar characters of'zreference indicate corresponding parts inithegufi several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main unit of the container.

Fig.2 is a similar view of the otherunit which includes the cutter. 115

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the "conipletely assembled structure showingthecutter as operated on the tape.

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the utter Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the gdevice showing the cutter as about to engage. the tape v i 1,75

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the cutter in its retracted position, andwith the edge of the tape raised by the automatically'fun c tioning finger.

Referring now more particularlyto lie characters of reference on the drawmg' 'the device comprlses initially separate uni-tan -One unit comprises an end head'or discjl having a central core 2 of a size to. freely project through the central core 3 of a spool of tape 4. A continuous band 5 somewhat wider than the spool of tape usedis rigid- 1y secured to the disc adjacent its rim;faiid 1 projects: from the same side as ,the'core. The band 5 has a rectangular opening}; slightly wider than the tape. One endfi of this opening is parallel-to-the cor the axis of the container and forms a tionary cutting blade or edge. Disposed a short distance inwardly of the band and e2;- tending a short distance along the openinggg g is afull-width 1ip.7, secured to said endiEE of 'the opening by a substantially radial shoulder 7a. Extending a short distance around the band from said .end E. 'Of/iillifi openingin spaced and concentric relation-Ito 4100 the band is a sheath 8, which has the same width as the band.

The other unit of the structure comprises an end disc or head 9, the same size as the disc 1 and having a central hole 10 to freely receive the core 2. A segmental bladeband 11 curved concentric with the axis of the head is secured along one edge to said head; the inner radius of the blade being substantially the same as the outer radius of the band 5, so that it will lie directly on said band. One edge of the band 11 is sharpened as shown at 12, to form a. cutting edge which extends on a transverse slant or diagonal from end to end. The long side of the blade band is the one which is secured to the head 9. A short distance beyond the cutting edge 12 a rigid arm 13 extends transversely of the unit from the head 9, and on its .outer end carries a finger 14 which projects toward'the blade. The arm and finger are disposed relative to the axis of the head so as to project inside the band 5 when the units are assembled; the finger being adapted to project through a slot 16 provided in the shoulder 7 a of the lip 7 at one side of the same. Said finger is disposed relative to the blade and with respect to the length of the opening. 6, so that the finger'will only .pro-. ject through the slot when the blade is fully retracted from over the opening, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the units are placed together the core 2 is headed or crimped over the disc 9, so as to then prevent separation of the units, while keeping the one turnable relative to the other. The blade 11 is then disposed outwardly of the band 5, its side edge opposite to the head 9 being received and guided in a circumferential groove 15 formed in the disc 1 outwardly of the band 5. The free edge of the band 5 is similarly engaged with the head 9. The-circumferential extent of this groove is sufiicient to enable the blade to be moved from a fully retracted position to one in which the band 11 coversthe opening 6 and the ed 12 is fully enclosed between the band an the sheath. i

The rims of the heads or discs are nurled or otherwise roughened so as to provide a non-slip grip with the fingers. When the device is not in use the opening 6 is covered bythe blade 11 and the cutting edge is sheathed so that the interior of the container and the spool are protected from contamination from the exterior, and the user 18 protected from possibly being cut by the blade. When it is desired to cut al'ength of tape the blade is retracted from over the opening b holding one head in onev hand and the other eadin the other hand and rotating the one relative to the other the necessary extent. The end of the tape on the 001 I (assuming it is now a new spool) is prie up so that it can be grasped by the fingers an is drawn off the spool in the direction opposite to the cutting blade; the spool rotating on the central core 2. After the tape has been unwound sufiiciently to provide a strip of the desired length it is drawn .snugly across the 11p and the adjacent end of the sheath 8, and is also pressed down on the sheath for a short distance in adhering relation thereto, as shown in Fig. 5. The cutter is then advanced over the openin by relative rotation of the head until the %lade cuts through the tape from edge to edge, when thecutting edge of the blade becomes again automatically sheathed. This cutting action operation.

When it is desired to cut off another strip of tape the blade is retracted from over the opening, as previously described. Owing to the sticky nature of the tape it will have remained adhered to the lip 7, in the same position as when previously out. In retracting the blade so as to clearthe openin however the fin er 14 projects through the ot 16 and in so oing engages and raises the adjacent edge of the tip clear of the lip as shown at 17 in Figs. 4 and 6. This provides a. tab for engagement with the fingers and it is an easy 'matter to then disengage the remainder of the width of the tape from its adhesion with the lip and unwind a length from the spool for cuttin in the manner previously described. This isengaging operation .is facilitatedby the position of the ledge relative to the band 5, since the tape remains stretched from the free ed e E at whichthe cutting action took place% an a pocket, the bottom of which is at all times clear of the tape, remains under the tape adjacent said edge E. Once'the edge of the tape has been raised by the finger 14, it is therefore an easy matter to pull the tape loose from the narrow surface with which it is still adheringly engaged.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a deviceas substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a de arture from the spirit of the invention, as efined by the appended claims.

Having. thus described my invention what 'I claim as new and useful and desire to sed cure by Letters Patent is being unwound from the spool, while being drawn through the band-opening, a blade diagonally of the blades to cooperate with member curved concentric with the band and disposed immediately adjacent the same and meansmounting the blade in connection with the band for movement over the opening and beyond one end thereof, said end forming a fixed blade to cuttingly cooperate with the movable blade, whereby the projected tape will be severed by the relative movement of the blades into overlapping relation with each other. i

2. A structure'as' in claim 1, in which the cutting edge of the movableblade extends band from side to side to provide a shearing action when said blade is turned to cooperate with the fixed blade.

3. An adhesive-tape container and cutter including a circular band having an opening therein and adapted tosurround a spool 0' tape, means mounted in connection with the band for supporting a spool in turnable relation to the-band to enable a length of tape to be unwound ,from the spool while being drawn through the band-opening, a blade member turnable on and concentric with the band and arranged for movement over the opening and beyond one end of the same, a sheath mounted on the band and. extending from said end of the opening beyond the same a sufiicient distance to enclose the cutting edge of the blade; said end of the opening and the adjacent end of the sheath being spaced apart to snugly receive the blade therebetween whereby said ends form fixed the movable blade.

4. An adhesive-tape container and cutter including a circular band having an-opening therein, and adapted to surround a spool of tape,'means mounted in connection with the band for supporting a spool in turnable relation to the band to enable a length of tape to be unwound from the spool whilebeing drawn through the band-opening, a blade member turnable closely'on and concentric with the band and arranged for movement over the opening and beyond one end of the same, the cutting edge of the blade then cooperating with the said end of the opening to sever a strip of tape drawn off the spool through the opening and abutted against said end of the opening, and means provided with the band for supporting the portion of the tape which extends from the spool to said end of the opening after the length of tape outwardly 'of the,op ening has been cut from the remainder. v

5. An adhesive-tape container and cutter including a circular band having an opening therein, and adapted to surround a spool of tape, means mounted in connection with the band for supporting a spool in turnable relation to the band to enable a length of tape to be unwound from the spool while being drawn through the band-opening, a blade member turnable closely cn and concentric with the band and arranged for movement over the opening and beyond one end of the same, the cuttingedge of the blade then cooperating with the said end of the opening to sever a strip of tape drawn OK the spool through the opening and abutted against said end of the opening, and a transverse lip fixed with the band and extending part way along the opening from said end thereof and disposed on a levelinwardly of the band.

6. An adhesive-tape container and cutter including a circular band having an opening therein and adapted to surround a spool of tape, means mounted in connection with the band for supporting a spool in turnable relation to the band to enable a length of tape to be unwound from the spool while f being] drawn-through the band-opening, a

blade member turnable closely on and concentric with the band and arranged for movement over the opening end of the same, and a member. mounted in fixed connection with the band in outwardly spaced relation to the same sufficient to snugly receive the blade therebetween; the said end of the opening and the adjacent end of said member lying in a substantially common radial plane to form fixed blade elements to cooperate with the movable blade.

7. An adhesive-tape container and cutter including a circular band having an opening therein, and adapted to surround a spool of tape, means mounted in connection with the band for supporting a spool in turnable relation to the band to enable a length of tape to be unwound fromthe spool While being drawn through the band-opening, a blade member turnable closely on and concentric with the band and arranged for movement over the opening and beyond one end of the same, the cutting edge of the blade then cooperating with the said'end of the openm to. sever a strip of tape drawn ofl the spoo through the opening and abutted against said end of the opening, and means provide in common movable relation with the blade for prying up the portion of the tape still lation to the band to enable a length of tape to be unwound from the spool while being and beyond one III Ill-

drawn through the band-opening, a blade member turnable closely on and concentric with the band and arranged for movement over the opening and beyond one end of the 5 same, the cutting edge of the blade then cooperating with the said end of the opening to sever a strip of tape drawn oil the spool through the opening and abutted against said end of the opening, and, a finger mount- }0 ed in common movable relation with the blade in opposed relation to the cutting edge thereof and inwardly of the band; said finger being arranged, when the blade is retracted clear of the opening, to project into the opening from the cutting end of the 7 same to pry up the portion of the tape still connected to the spool and adjacent the opening and severed edge of said tape portion. 4 2 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROSCOE C. ZUCKERMAN. 

